Pleasanton Couple Married Almost 70 Years Killed In Dublin Car Crash

PLEASANTON, CA — A Pleasanton couple in their 90s who had been married almost 70 years were killed in a single-vehicle crash in Dublin, according to the Dublin Police Services and information from their obituary.

On Thursday, Sept. 25 at around 1:30 p.m., Joseph Patti, 91, and his wife Joan, 92, were driving west on I-580, according to a report from the Dublin Police Services. As they exited the freeway to turn left onto Fallon Road, their car hit the curb, went off the road into a grassy area, and flipped forward in a drainage ditch.

The car landed front end down, with the roof smashed up against a concrete wall along I-580.

Crews from DPS, the Pleasanton Police Department, and CHP helped extricate the couple from the car and transport them to the nearest hospital.

Joan Patti was pronounced dead at the hospital that day, and Joseph Patti was pronounced dead the following weekend.

Joseph and Joan had a "lifelong love story began in high school and blossomed into a rich partnership filled with devotion, family, and shared purpose," according to their obituary. They met at Revere High School in Massachusetts, where Joe served as senior class president and Joan was head cheerleader.

Joe graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and served in the U.S. Marine Corps before beginning a career with the federal government. He ultimately became western regional director for the Office of Personnel Management. Joan graduated Tufts University and became an English teacher and an organist at their church.

Together, they raised five children, and have twelve grandchildren. They honored their Italian heritage by traveling frequently to Italy and filling their home with Italian food, language and traditions. They eventually moved to the Stoneridge Creek Retirement Community, here Joe managed the bocce team, led the Italian club, and participated in gardening, billiards, bridge, and improv. Joan sang in the choir and took part in bridge, bocce and other social activities.

Joan was described as a "natural conversationalist who could light up any room," while Joe was "equally beloved for his kindness, humility, and steady presence."

"Together, they made the perfect complement."

A celebration of their life is scheduled for a later date.

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